Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) Fellowship 2025 For Nigerians | How to Apply

The Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) Fellowship closed its fourth cohort on October 14, 2025. It’s a fully sponsored leadership and governance programme for young Nigerians, combining residential training, hands-on internship experience within the National Assembly, and direct mentorship from senior lawmakers.

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LMI was founded by Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and other governance institutions. This was its fourth cohort, meaning the programme has an established track record rather than being a one-off initiative — a meaningful signal for anyone weighing whether to invest time in the application. Fellows don’t just study governance from a classroom; they work directly alongside experienced lawmakers, policy experts, and public sector thought leaders, with the internship component placing them inside actual legislative institutions rather than a simulated setting.

LMI Fellowship Summary

What Fellows Receive

• Full sponsorship covering accommodation, meals, and training costs
• Intensive leadership and governance training from experts in policy, law, and public administration
• Hands-on legislative internship experience within the National Assembly and related institutions
• One-on-one mentorship from senior lawmakers and governance professionals
• Networking opportunities with leaders, mentors, and fellow participants nationwide
• A certificate of completion for successful participants

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Legislative Mentorship Initiative Fellowship Required Documents

• A CV or résumé
• A completed online application form through the LMI portal
• Proof of age
• A personal essay or motivation statement
• A one-minute video introducing yourself and explaining why you should be selected

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Who Qualifies for the Legislative Mentorship Initiative Fellowship

You needed to:

• Be a Nigerian citizen between 21 and 35 years old
• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree or HND from a recognised institution
• Show a genuine interest in leadership, governance, and public policy
• Provide evidence of community involvement, innovation, or advocacy experience
• Have solid communication and analytical skills

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Legislative Mentorship Initiative Fellowship Application Process

1. Complete the Google Form with accurate personal and academic details, giving clear, detailed responses throughout.
2. Prepare a written response document, answering three specific questions, then convert it to PDF for upload:
   • Why you’re interested in the fellowship and what you expect to gain (200 words or fewer)
   • How you’ve demonstrated leadership in the past (200 words or fewer)
   • Your stance on equity and inclusion, and how it aligns with LMI’s values (150 words or fewer)
3. Upload a one-minute video expressing your interest in the fellowship, kept under 100MB.
4. Review everything carefully and submit before the deadline.

Application Deadline

Applications closed October 14, 2025. No confirmed date has been announced for a fifth cohort, but given this programme’s established four-cohort history, a future round is a reasonable expectation rather than a one-time opportunity that’s now gone. Watch LMI’s official application portal directly for announcements.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still apply for this cohort?

No. Applications closed October 14, 2025, and the process described doesn’t include a late submission option.

Do I need prior political or governance experience to qualify?

Not specifically political experience, but you did need to show evidence of community involvement, innovation, or advocacy work, alongside a genuine interest in leadership and public policy.

What kind of internship experience did fellows actually get?

Fellows completed hands-on legislative internship placements within the National Assembly and related governance institutions, rather than a general administrative internship — this was built specifically around exposure to lawmaking and policy formulation.

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Is age a strict cutoff for this fellowship?

Yes. Eligibility was set between 21 and 35 years old, so applicants outside this range weren’t eligible regardless of their other qualifications.

Was this fellowship open to Nigerians studying or living outside Nigeria?

The eligibility criteria specify Nigerian citizenship without an explicit residency requirement, but the fellowship’s residential training and National Assembly internship components suggest genuine availability to be physically present in Nigeria during the programme.

Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Legislative Mentorship Initiative website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Legislative Mentorship Initiative or the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

Official Application Portal